Archbishop John Nienstedt steps down

The Vatican Bollettino has announced Pope Francis's acceptance of the resignation of Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He has no replacement yet; Newark's Coadjutor Archbishop Bernard Hebda has been appointed Apostolic Administrator during the sede vacante in the archdiocese.

Auxiliary bishop Lee Anthony Piché, who is only 57, has also had his resignation accepted.

As our readers know well, Abp. Nienstedt has been the subject of renewed accusations of "mishandling" allegations of sexual abuse committed by a priest of the Archdiocese, only the latest in a series of accusations that have been hurled against him by his mostly-liberal critics.

As one conservative bishop after another is speedily removed over allegations of mishandling accusations of immorality and / or sexual abuse against the clergy subject to them, we await the day when liberal bishops and cardinals who are guilty of far greater offenses will experience the same treatment.